Timeless Albania: Coast to Countryside

Nine days moving through Albania from capital city to coastline to mountain villages, with a guide who fills in the history as you go. It's a country most people know little about, and this trip is built to change that — UNESCO sites, old towns, wine, and a fair bit of local contact along the way.

You start in Tirana and work through Shkodra and Kruja before heading to Berat for its ruins and local wine, then down to the Albanian Riviera for coastal villages and Ali Pasha's castle. From there it's Butrint's ancient ruins, a mussel-tasting stop on Butrint Lake, and finally Gjirokastra's Ottoman old town and a taste of village life in Dhoksat.

Paced for families and groups who want to see a lot without rushing — cities, coast, and countryside all in one trip, with guided visits throughout.

What you'll do

• Explore Tirana and the craft traditions of Shkodra
• Hear the history behind Kruja's hilltop fortress
• Wander Berat's old quarter and try local wines
• Visit Ali Pasha Castle on the Albanian Riviera
• Walk the ancient ruins of Butrint and try a mussel-tasting tour on Butrint Lake
• Finish in Gjirokastra's Ottoman old town with a stop in Dhoksat village